The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-01
BUCCANEERS AT NAPLES.
An Interesting Story of the Early Days
of Florida


seeap by an old Surveyor
Prior to the discovery Of steam, as applied
to the purposes of navigation, and before
the modern rage for scientific exploration
and survey had led men to penetrate to
the uttermost ends of the earth, the
greater part of Florida was almost an un-
known land.
The Everglades were untrodden, save
by unfrequent bands of wandering Semi
mole Indians, and even their trespasses
in that wilderness were held in check by
the reptiles which swarmed i'll the oozy
swamps
There was no misunderstanding to re-
pay-Should the patient mariner dream of
threading the intricate navigation of the
coasts, deeply and variously indented as
they are, studded with thousands of islands
home of the pelican and the cranes, the
osprey, the eagle and the screaming sea gull
Each river mouth, too, with sand and soil
washed from the land abounds in PREACHER
Gus shoals.
Thus coasts and interior alike were adj
mirably adapted for and did become the
haunt and refuge of the lawless--the
savages, the snuggler and the pirate-all
of whom frequented these parts unmo-
Tested, carrying on their depredat!ons far
and wide.
On the east coast of America and ON the
Spanish main, we read that Capt. Kidd was
pirate king, but here on the west coast of
Florida, which now we have good reason to
expect will soon become the garden of the
world, and where we now see fair aud pros
porous cities springing into being; here, l
say, was the headquarters of a pirate chief,
who, Judging by the following narration,
surpassed III daring and savage cruelty all
that have ever heard ascribed to Capt
Kidd. My informant was an ancient negro
named Antonio Perpino, who died in Tai
lahasSee at the age OF III, shortly after the
late war. His own history and recoliections
would fill q good-sized volume. He was
born in the Island of Jamaica, and at the
age Of 10 was valet to British officer
who was then stationed there. On the
breaking out of the war of independence,
Antonio accompanied his master to this con-
tinent taking part in numerous engage
ments, among others that of Bunker's Hill
At the close of the war he drifted down TO
the South, finally taking up his abode at
st Augustine.
When there he entered the service of the
Spanish Governor of the fort, who SO far
trusted him as to employ him in carrying
dispatches between there and the Fort Of St
Marks, a service Of great responsibility and
attended with considerable danger at that
unsettled period.
We talk OF the severity of Florida winters
nowadays, Old Antonio could tell of a
suowstolnl, the saverest be ever experienced,
which, i'll 1902 overlook him on one occasion
between St Augustine and st. Marks. But
TO return to our tale.
He described travelling by land and by sea
as dangerous III the extreme. On his frequent
journeys generally made on horseback), he
had to beware of hostile Indians, and also
the buccaneers, whe did rot confine their
operations to the ocean only, but it was
well known that they had stations some dis
lance from the coast, so well fortified by
nature and art as to be well nigh impene-
trable.
According to Antonio's tale, the notorious
pirate chief alluded to above, had such a
stronghold on the shores of GOrdOn's bay,
only accessible through secret passage or
canal cut by the pirates through the outside
peninsula. Curiously enough, while survey
ing there few weeks ago we came upon
this canal, which leads through the side of
the town of Naples to deep natural basin
beyond.
The basin beyond, sheltered and deep,
gave a secure anchrage to the pirate fleet,
while the fort ashore cohld be well garrison
ed by the pirate crews. They found it good
policy to ally themselves with the Semi
noles, then enraged at the occupancy of the
Spaniards, and such an alliance proved
most formidable, as the unfortunate
Governor at st. Augustine found to his
cost
In spite of the danger attendant upon the
voyage between Cuba and the continent, he
kept up constant communication with the
port of Havana, and having hitherto always
made the Journey with safety, he was in
duced, at the earnest solicitude of his young
son and daughter, who at that time were
nearly grown UP to let them start for the
port Of Havana.
Never was decision attended with more
fatal consequences. The pirate flotilla at
tackled the vessel III which were the child
rem &; and after a short, sharp struggle, the
crew were overpowered and the children
taken prisoners.
Arrived at their stronghold on the bay
the pirates deliberated as to the best way of
turning the important capture to account.
Summoning their Seminole allies to the
council, they at last decided on the bold
stroke of marching on Fort Augustine, and
calling on the Governor to surrender. In the
event of his refusing, they would threaten
to put his children 10 death.
Little did they know the stern stuff Of
which that brave old soldier was made. In
front of the fortress walls, according to
their plan, they first produced the girl,
threatening to destroy her if their demands
were not complied with. The staunch old
Governor replied that he would ''hold the
fortn Baffied for the time they again came
forward, this time with the son. who, they
believed was his fathers favorite child still
the Governor refused They then had resort
TO torture
In full view from the ramparts the mis-
creantS led out their captive, and tightly
binding round his head a knotted cord,
through which was transversely thrust the
barrel of a pistol, they deliberately proceed
ed to twist this round as "a lever, the cord
cutting through the skin into the very skull.
The screams of the victim were heard
within the fort as he implored his father to
yield.
But no, the Governor would not treat with
them at all Sorely tried as he must have
been he doubtless knew that 10 dependence
could he placed on any treaty made with
such treacherous and cruel enemies. Had
he yielded, the probability is that his sub
mission would simply mean the torture and
massacre of his whole command.
Enraged at his persistent refusal, the
ruffians so increased the pressure of the
ligature that the boy fell lifeless in the hands
OF his tormcntors. II was afterwards found
that the skull was actually fractured.
Maddened by the sight, the Governor,
heading the defenders, made furious sally
from the fort, routing the pirates and
Indians, who broke for the woods, leaving
the dead body of the son, but, UNI
happily, carrying Off with them the hapless
girl.
Prolonged but fruitless was the chase